Combination-lock



'at e.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. MORSE, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,830, dated December 4, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. MORSE, of the city of Peoria, county of Peoria, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a slotted wheel with its balls. Fig. 4 is a slide for making a change in combination.

Mly improvement consists in placing upon an arbor within the frame of the lock one or more slotted wheels, the slots being filled with balls, and so arranged that the revolving of the knob will turn these wheels, and the slot being made at the pleasure oit' the operator (access being had to the back of the lock) by a slide so arranged that it will remove any one of these balls, permitting a lug properly arranged for the purpose of entering, and in the act of entering releases the bolt and allows it to be thrown, and the dial on the front of the lock always showi ing the position of these slots to the person making them.

The manner of working this lock is, as follows: Push in the knob A, and revolve it once around, always turning to the right. This will cause the pin D, to strike the stop H, and revolve the slotted wheel E. Set the dial M, on any one of the numbers you choose, say No. l, reference being had to Fig. l. Draw out the slide B. This removes the ball X, from the slot allowing it to rest on the outer rim of slotted wheel E, This forms a slot and allows the lug C, to enter it at the proper time. The lock is now set on Fig. l, or, in other words, the mental key or combination is 1. (When the combination is mentioned more than one wheel is supposed to exist.) Draw back the knob A. This releases the pin D, from slotted wheel E, and the pin F, will enter one of the holes z', z', in the cam Gr. Now turn the knob A, entirely around (always to the right). This will bring the lug C, (the cam G operating upon it,) down into the slot releasing the bolt and allowing it to be thrown. To prevent the combination from being Jfound, push in the knob A, revolve it once or more around; this will cause the pin D, to strike the stop H, and revolve the slotted wheel E. The balls in slotted wheel prevent the lug O from entering, and the bolt from being withdrawn until the slotted wheel is again brought into the proper position. By sulering the pin D, to pass through the wheels, as many can be added as one may choose. Now it will readily be perceived that when the pin F, is acting upon the cam G in throwing the bolt that the pin D, is disconnected from the slotted wheel E, which prevents the possibility of feeling the slot from which the ball is taken or in other words finding the combination or picking the lock. To make the change of combination push in the knob A, revolve it, turning to the right once around; then set the dial on the figure that indicates the present combination; push in the slide B. This ills the slot with its ball; then turn till the dial indicates. the number you wish for a change, draw out the slide B, and a new combination or mental key is produced.

I disclaim the slotted wheels knowing that they have been used before, or the method of connecting or disconnecting the cam or slotted wheel with cylinder O.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The balls X, or their equivalent in connection with the slotted wheel E, and slide B, working in the manner and for the purpose specied.

JNO. H. MORSE.

Witnesses:

M. S. CARR, JNO. F. LowRY. 

